Slicing machine



June 18, 1935. c. s. REED ET AL SL IGING MACHINE Filed NOV. 26, 1930 3Sheets-Sheet l June18,'1935. c. s. REED El AL 2,005,109

SLICING MACHINE Filed Nov. 26, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 18, 1935. c,s; REED ET AL 2,005,109

SLICING MACHINE] 4 Filed Nov. 26, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet s e/ 56 56 I J 63A 9 93 92. 93 536 F 7 23 I6 94 a;

Mus/wees 5 CI 5. E550 w A. PuB/N Patented June 18, 1935 UNITED STATESSLICING MACHINE Carl S. Reed and Adolph Rubin, St; Louis, Mo., assignorsto Hussmann-Ligonier Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of DelawareApplication November 26, 1930, Serial No. 498,286

20 Claims.

This invention relates generally to slicing machines adapted for use inslicing foodstuffs, such as meats, sausage, bread, cheese, etc., and thepredominant object of the invention is to produce an improved slicingmachine of the type disclosed in an application filed by the said AdolphRubin on April 7, 1930, and which bears Serial Number 442,097 nowmatured into av Patent Number 1,925,848.

An important feature of the slicing machine disclosed herein, and of theslicing machine disclosed in the said Adolph Rubins earlier applicationreferred to above, is that the cutting elements thereof are of thereciprocatory type instead of rotary, as is the case with most slicingmachines in use at the present time. The cutting element of the machinedisclosed in the earlier application is arranged so that it reciprocatesperpendicularly with respect to a horizontal base, and while areciprocating cutting element so arranged 11110".

tioned with very great efficiency in slicing most of the foodstuffs withwhich it is used, it was found that in the case of somevery softfoodstuffs, such as fresh bread or soft meats, some trouble wasexperienced in obtaining a clean out, due to the tendency of the softmaterials to move upwardly and downwardly with the reciprocating cuttingelement.

In view of this situation we have devised the slicing machine disclosedin the present application, which is provided with a reciprocatorycutting element arranged at an acute angle with respect to the path oftravel of the material being sliced instead of perpendicularly withrespect to said path of travel, as in the case of the machine disclosedin the earlier application of the said Adolph Rubin, above referred to.This acute angular arrangement of the cutting element of the improvedmachine disclosed herein results in the foodstuffs being sliced beingforced downwardly by the reciprocating cutting element against theelement by which they are supported. In other words, the article beingsliced, as it passes into contact with the cutting element, movesthrough a wedge-shaped cutting zone, the

top inclined edge of which is thecutting element,

and as the article being sliced is forced against the inclined cuttingelement to perform the slicing operation, said article will be forced orcammed downwardly by said inclined cutting element.

It is plain, therefore, that because of the inclined arrangement of thecutting element of my improved slicing machine there will be no tendencyfor soft-material being. sliced to move upwardly and downwardly with thereciprocating cutting element, but instead such soft material will beheld firmly against the element by which it is supported, whereby themaximum slicing efficiency is obtained.

Another very important feature of the slicing machine disclosed hereinresides in the fact that the reciprocatory cutting element thereof istilted in a transverse direction with respect to the path of travel ofthe foodstuffs being sliced. In other words, only the cutting edge ofthe cutting element is in the path of travel of the material beingsliced, the transversely tilted condition of the cutting elementremoving the remaindcrof said cutting element out'of the path of travelof said material being sliced.

Still another exceedingly important feature of this invention is foundin the fact that the means which imparts reciprocatory movement to thecutting element of the machine includes a movement stabilizing meanswhich makes the movement of the cutting element substantially uniform atall times. In theabsence of the movement stabilizing means referred to',it was found that when the cutting element was subjected to the strainsincident to the slicing operations the smoothness of the reciprocatorymovement of said cutting element. was affected. However, when themovement stabilizing means is employed as a part of the mechanism whichimparts movement to the cutting element, a .uniformity of movement ofsaid cutting element is obtained which is conducive to the maximumslicing efficiency.

Finally, an important feature of the invention resides in the fact thatthe improved slicing machine includes a gauge plate which is tiltedtransversely at a slight angle with respect to the path of travel of thefoodstuffs being sliced, and a pusher plate forming a part of a followeris provided forforcing the foodstuffs being sliced into contact withsaid gauge plate, which is extended parallel with respect to the gaugeplate. This. is an important improvement, inasmuch as the entire articlebeing sliced is held in firm contact with the gauge plate, wherebyslices of uniform thickness throughout are produced.

Fig.1 is a plan view of the improved slicing machine. f

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the slicing machine illustrated in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken through the machine illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2. I

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrati'ng the mechanism forimparting reciprocatory movement to the cutting element of the improvedslicing machine. 1

Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 66 0 Fig. 4.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged cross-section on line 'I'I of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration,merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improvedslicing machine generally, said machine including a suitable base Iwhich preferably, though notnecessarily, is of the inverted hollowconstruction shown in Fig. 3. At the forwardside of the base I same isprovided with inturned extensions 2 to which suitable feet 3 are fixed,and at the rear side of said base a pair of outwardly extended brackets'4 are secured which support a pan P. Each of the brackets 4 is providedwith an upwardly extended portion 5 which contacts with a portion of therear face of the base I, said upwardly extended bracket portion beingprovided with centering pins 6 which are inserted into apertures in therear wall of the base for the purpose of locating the bracket portionswith respect to the base. I designates screw-threaded devices, one ofwhich is associated with the upwardly extended portion of each bracket,the screw-threaded shank portion I thereof being extended through anopening in the upwardly extended bracket portion and being screwed intoa screwthre'ad'ed aperture in the rear wall of the base,

Each bracket 4 is provided with a circular portion 8 which provides afoot 9 adapted to aid in supporting the machine.

, The base I of the machine A includes a rearwardly extended extensionI3 which provides a flat shoulder I I at its top, and secured to thisextension at the shoulder referred to is an upstanding plate I2. Theplate I2 is provided with a laterally turned flange I3 at its lower endthrough which fastening devices I4 are passed, these fastening devicesserving to secure the plate I2 inplace. The plate I2 at its outer end issubstantially flush with the corresponding end of the base I of themachine A, and at its inner end said plate is provided with a portion I5shaped to provide a guide for the cutting element I6 of the machine.While the guide I5 referred to is extended upwardly with respect to thehorizontal plane of the base I, said guide is'not perpendicular withrespect thereto, but instead the guide is extended upwardly at an acuteangle with respect to the horizontal plane of the base. The inclina- 60"with respect to the horizontalplane of the base I' of the machine servesmy purpose very well.

The guide I5 comprises a main supporting portion I5 which is providedwith a depression or recess I? extended from top to bottom of said mainsuporting portion. The inner wall ll of the recess I! is inclined fromfront to back of the guide, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, with respect tothe forward face I8 of the guide, and the rear wall of said recess isarranged at a substan tial right angle with respect to said inner wall.The recess I1 is open at the top and bottom of the guide I5, and anopening I9 which coincides with the lower-end of the guide is formed inthe top wall of the base I (Fig. 3). The base I includes a portion 20which extends upwardly from the top wall of said base to the elevationof the shoulder II already referred to herein, said extension beingextended from end to end of the base and being cut out at the locationof the lower end of the guide, as indicated at 20' in Fig. 3.

Seated in the rear portion of the recess I1 is a backing strip 2I whichis substantially thin when compared with the depth of the recess. Thebacking strip 2| is held in place by fastening devices 22 which passthrough apertures formed in said backing strip and are screwed intoscrewthreaded openings in the main body portion of the guide I5.Thesefastening devices 22 also serve to secure in place a guiding strip23 which extends longitudinally of the guide I5 from top to bottom. Theguiding strip 23 is of greater width than the backing strip 2|, andtherefore a guideway 24 is provided between a portion of .the inner faceof the guiding strip and the oppositely disposed portion of the bottomwall ll of the recess ll, the forward edge of the backing strip 2|constituting the bottom or-inner wall of this guideway. The cuttingelement already designated herein by the reference character I6 isarranged in .the guideway 24, this cutting element being in the form ofa fiat, elongated blade, and, as will hereinafterappear, is arranged forreciprocatory movement within said guideway 24.

Supported beneath the top wall of the base I of the machine A is asuitable motor M arranged with its armature shaft horizontal, saidarmature shaft having fixed thereto a pulley 25. Supported by a suitablebracket structure 26 fixed to the top wall of the base I and suspendedtherefrom (Fig. 3) is a horizontally disposed shaft 2I, said shaft 2!being provided with suitable ball bearings 28. The shaft 21* hasfixedly, mounted thereon a pulley 29, and operating over the pul- .ley29 and over the pulley 25 on the armature shaft of the motor is anendless belt 30. It is apparent, in view of the arrangement of thepulleys 25 and'ZQ and the'endless belt 30, that when the motor M is inoperation rotary movement will be imparted to the shaft 21. Fixed'to theshaft 21 at the end thereof opposite to the end at which the pulley 29is located is a movement stabilizing element in the form of a fly wheel3|. The fly wheel 3| is rigidly fixed to the shaft 21 so that it rotatestherewith, and said fly wheel is of such weight that when the shaft isin motion the momentum of the rapidly rotating fly wheel will render themovement of the shaft2I much more uniform than it would be in theabsence of said fly wheel.

Secured to the fly wheel 3| by means of fastening devices 32 is anelement 33, said element 33 being providedwith a flange 34 through whichI the fastening devices 32 are passed. The element 33 is provided with ashort shaft 35 which extends outwardly from the main body portion of theelement at a slight angle with respect to the major axis of the shaft 21(Fig. 5), the forward face 33 of the body portion of the element 33being at an approximately right angle to the major axis of the shortshaft 35. Mounted on the short shaft 35 is a sleeve 36 which lsprovidedwith an outwardly extended flange 31 at its inner end which contacts theangular face 33' of the body portion of the element 33. The outer endportion of the sleeve 36 is screw-thread ed and a plate 38, which isprovided with a central screw-threaded opening, is screwed on thescrew-threaded end portion of the sleeve. The flange 31 of the sleeve 36and the plate 38 are tal shaft 21 is supported includes a bearing por-'tion 42 which is provided with an opening in which a 'rod 43 is mountedforreciprocatory movement.

The rod 43 is provided with an enlarged head portion 44 of bifurcatedformation, and extended across the space between thespaced legs of saidbifurcated head portion and supported by said spaced legs is a pin 45.The bifurcated head portion 44 of the rod 43 receives'the lower endportion of the cutting element [6 between the spaced legs thereof, saidlower end pc-rtion'of said cutting element being provided with atransversely extended open end slot 46 (Fig.4) which receives the pin 45in a manner to connect the cutting element and the rod 43 together. Atthe lower end of the rod 43 a bifurcated element 41 is fixedly attachedthereto, and rotatably supported by the spaced legs of said bifurcatedelement so that it extends from one leg to the other is arod 48. The rod48 is provided with an aperture 49 formed therethrough through which anextension 50 on the yoke 46 extends, as shown in Fig. 5. The upperportion of the yoke 40 is provided with an extension 5|, and thisextension, together with the portionof the yoke adjacent thereto, ispositioned between a pair of spaced apart extensions 52 formed on thebearing portion 42 of the bracket structure 26. The spaced apartextensions 52 serve as guides which prevent rotation of the yoke .46 andguide said yoke during vertical movement thereof.

As already stated, the plate 38 is screwed on the screw-threaded endportion of the sleeve 36, and because the frictional contact between therollers 39 and said plate 38 may tend to unscrew said plate when therollers are rotated about the sleeve 36, we provide a torsional coilspring 53 (Fig. 5) to eliminate this tendency. One end of the torsionalcoil spring is connected to the plate 38 and the other end is connectedto a nut 54 which is screwed on the reduced, screw-threaded end portion35' of the short shaft 35and serves to retain the sleeve 36 on saidshort shaft. The torsional coil spring 53 is characterized by a tendencyto rotate the plate 38 in a manner to screw said plate inwardly on thescrew-threaded portion of the'sleeve, hence the force exerted by saidcoil spring will resist the frictional force which tends to unscrew theplate 38. 7

Due to the fact that the element 33 is provided with the short shaft 35which is operatively asso-' ciated with the horizontal shaft 21 at anacute angle relative to the major axis of said horizontal shaft, thesleeve 36 and the parts associated therewith will be subjected towobbling motion when the shaft 21 is rotated by the motor M. Thiswobbling motion of the element 33 will cause the outer end of the yoke40 to rise and fall in an arc of a circle, andbecause the extension 50of said yoke is connected to-the rod 43, said rod, and with it thecutting element l6, will be subjected to reciprocatory movement.

It will be noted by referring particularly to Fig. 3 that the bracketstructure 26 has associated with it a housing. 55, which is suspendedfrom nism which imparts reciprocatory motion to the cutting element IS.a receptacle'for a body of oil which may be disposed in the lowerportion of said housing 55 so that it will be splashed about by the flywheel 3| in a manner to lubricate all of the Working parts within thehousing 55. g

The means for guiding the upper end of the cutting element [6 comprisesasubstantially L- shaped element 56, one leg 56 of which is seated in anelongated depression 51 formed in the guide IS. The other leg 56 of theL-shaped element 56 is provided with a pin 58 at its outer end which isdisposed in an elongatedslot 59 formed in the cutting element l6 at theupper end thereof. The slot 59 is open at the top edge of the cuttingelement l6, and the leg se of theelement '56 is provided with anelongated slot 66 formed therein through which a fastening device '6! ispassed. The fastening device 6| is screwed into a screwthreaded aperturein the body portion of the guide l5, and said fastening device isprovided This arrangement provides with a shoulder 62 which isadapted tofrictionally engage the outer face of the leg 56 of the element 56 whensaid fastening device is screwed inwardly to clamp the element 56 in afixed position.

The slot 59 at the upper end of the cutting element I6 is of suflicientlength to permit re ciprocatory movement of said cutting element withrespect to the pin 58, andwhen it is desired to remove a cutting elementfor the purpose of sharpening same, or for any-other reason, thefastening device Si is unscrewed so as to remove the shoulder 62 out ofcontact with the outer face of the leg 56 of the element 56. The entireelement 56 may then be moved upwardly until the pin 58 is above theupper edge of the cut-- ting element, the slot 66 in the leg 56 of saidelement 56 permitting upward movement'of said element with respect tothe screw-threaded shank of the fastening device 6!. The cutting elementmay thenbe grasped at the finger openings 63 and moved outwardly to theapproximate position illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 4 so as todisengage the slot 46 at the lower end of the cutting element from thepin 45,.whereuponthe cutting element may be lifted out of position.

When a cutting element'is being arranged in place inthe machine thelower end of said cutting element is introduced into a position wherethe slot 46 engages the pin 45, after which the cutting element ismovedto its proper position. The element 56 is then moved downwardly in amanner to cause the pin 58 to move into the slot 59 at the upper end ofthe cutting element, after which the fastening device 6| is screwedinwardly so as to clamp the element 56 in position. It will be notedthat the backing strip is cut away at its lower end, as indicated at thepoint desig' nated by the reference character 64 in Fig. 4.

This is to permit engagement and disengagement of the slot 46 at thelower end of the cutting element relative to the pin. 45.

65 designates a gauge plate which serves to regulate the thickness ofthe slices produced by the slicing machine. This gauge plate is arrangedin substantially the same vertical plane in which the plate l2, alreadyreferred to herein, is disposed, the plate I2 being located at one sideof the cutting element "5 and the gauge plate 65 being located at theopposite side of said cutting element. The gauge plate is arranged foradjustment so'that its inner edge, or that. edge thereof which islocated immediately adjacentto the cutting edge of the cutting elementI6, may be moved f plate 65, each of said arms having an endportionthereof interposed between a pair of vertically alined ears 66,and a pin 68 being extended through said ears and'through the endportion of the arm located therebetween, whereby the arm is pivotallyattached to the gauge plate. Supported for axial rotation in openingsformed in the base I isa pair of vertically arranged rods .69, said rodsat their upper ends being rigidly ,fixed to the ends of the arms 61opposite to the ends thereof which are pivotally connected to the gaugeplate. The lower faces of the arms 61 rest on the top'face of the baseI, whereby the elevation of the gauge plate 65 is maintained, and alsotheirods 69 are rotatable toswing the outer 6 ends of the arms 61in anarc of a circle, and in this manner adjust the gauge plate forwardly andrearwardly with respect to the cutting edge of the cutting element I6.

Rigidly fixed to the lower ends of the rods 69 is a pair of operatingarms I6 which are pivotally connected together at their outer ends by alink 'II. I2 designates a bell crank lever which has a leg thereofpivotally attached to an end portion of the link II. The bell cranklever is pivoted at 13 to the base I and includes an elongated operatingarm I4 which extends outwardly beyond the base of the machine. The baseI of the machine is provided with a plurality of upstanding, spacedextensions I5 arranged in arcuate formation, and the bell crank lever I2is provided with an element I6 which is movable into the spaces betweenthe various adjacent extensions 15 so as to lock said bell crank leveragainst accidental movement after same has been set. Also,,the base Ihas fixed to it a plate 11 provided with graduations with respect towhich the operating arm I4 of the bell cranklever I2 is moved, saidgraduations indicating the degree of movement of the operating arm I4necessary to obtain slices of predetermined thicknesses. An importantfeature of the invention resides in the fact that the gauge plate 65 istilted slightly in a horizontal direction; that is to say, the outeredge of said gauge plate is disposed in a position which is. removedrearwardly of the machine a slight distance with respect to the positionof the inner edge of said gauge plate.

The base I of the machine is provided with a recess I8 (Fig. 3) in whicha guiding member 19 is arranged. This guiding member is preferably inthe form of a tubular element which is extended longitudinally of thebase I and is supported at its opposite ends by suitable means,

such as the members 80 which are fixed to the base I. Also, the base Iis provided with a track 8| which likewise extends longitudinally ofsaid base.

aoosuoe' shaped (Fig. 2) and. the upstanding wall 82' at the right-handside of the carriage in this view is provided with spaced apart lugs 85which sup spect to the. top face of the bottomwall of the As alreadystated, the supporting elecarriage.

ment is slidable with respect to the carriage 82,-

and tracks 9| are provided at the top face of the bottom wall of thecarriage to facilitate such movement.

Mounted for sliding movement ,on the rod- 86 is a follower whichcomprises an arm 92 provided with eye portions 93 throughv which a rod93? is extended, said rod 93 being supported by upstanding lugs 93'? onthe eye portions 88- of the supporting element. The follower includes asub-; stantially L-shaped plate 94 fixed to said arm. The L-shaped plate94 is comprised of a horizontally disposed portion which is arrangedparallel with and in slightly spaced relation to the portion 99 of thesupporting element 81, and a substantially vertical plate portion formedintegral with the horizontal portion, said vertical plate portionserving as a pusher plate. .The follower is provided with a handle 95for moving same forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the carriage,and because the eye portions of the arm 92 of the follower areinterposedbetween and in contact with the eye portions of the supporting element,said supporting element will be moved by said follower. tion- 90 of thesupporting element-is provided with upstanding prongs 96, and thevertical portion of the L-shaped plate of the follower is provided withprongs 91. which extend downwardly and forwardly, respectively. I v

In orderto cause the carriage 82 to move freely with respect to theguiding member 19, we provide the tubular element 83'which embraces saidguide ing member with a plurality of rollers I60 (Fig. 7). These rollersare mountedonangular shafts IOI which are inserted into correspondinglyshaped slots I02 formed at. the oppositeends of the tubular element 83,said slots being open at the ends of the tubular element: as shown inFig. 2, andthe angular shafts with the rollers I mounted thereon beingpassed into, said slots from the open ends of the slots. I03 designatescaps (Fig.2) which are fittedon the tubular element 83 at its oppositeends to prevent displacement of the rollers I00. If desired, the eyeportions of the supporting element 81 and the follower may be providedwith rollers arranged as just described, so as to cause said supportingelement and follower to move freely with respect to the rod 86.

A very important feature of this invention resides in the fact that theupstanding plate of the follower is engaged parallel with respect to thetilted gauge plate 65. This means, of course, that the rod 86, by whichthe follower isguided, is disposed at a right angle with respect to theplane of the gauge plate so that the parallelism of the upstandingplate, of the follower and the gauge plate may be maintained. By soarranging. the upstanding plate of the follower and the gauge plate weprovide The horizontally disposed porfor' straight line movement,

for forcing the entire face of the article being sliced into contactwith the gauge plate and maintaining said face in contact with saidgauge plate duringthe slicing operations, whereby slices of uniformthickness throughout are produced. The importance of this arrangementwill be realized if it will be remembered that if the upstanding plateof the follower were located at a slight angle to the tilted gaugeplate, as would be the case if said upstanding plate of the followerwere parallel with respect to the path of travel of the carriage 82, thearticle to be sliced would be gripped tightly between the follower andthe gauge plate at the forward ends only thereof. This conditionwouldpermit the rearmost end of the article being sliced to move duringthe cutting operation whereby slices of non-uniform thickness would beproduced.

In the operation of the improved slicing ma chine, the material to besliced is supported by the carriage 82 and said material is movedrearwardly of said carriage by the follower. If desired, the material tobe sliced may be clamped between the horizontal plate portion of thefollower and the horizontal portion of the supporting element 8'! duringsuch rearward movement of said material, or, if preferred, the materialmay be moved rearwardly of the carriage by arranging the rear endthereof in contact with the vertical plate portion of the follower andmoving said follower rearwardly. The operator grasps the handle andmoves the carriage back and forth with respect to the machine, at thesame time keeping the material pressed rearwardly by forcing thefollower in that direction, and each time I the material ismoved fromleft to right of the machine and with respect to the rapidlyreciprocating cutting element, a slice is cut therefro which falls onthe pan P.

It will be noted by referring to Fig. 1 that the transverse dimension ofthe cutting element is tilted with respect to the path of travel of thecarriage 82; in other words, the cutting edge of said cutting element islocated in advance of the rear edge thereof. This is important, inasmuchas only' the cutting edge of the cutting element contacts with thefoodstuffs being sliced, the remainder of thecutting element beinglocated out of the path of travel of said foodstuffs. Thus the flat sideface of the reciprocating cutting elements does not rub against the.foodstuffs being sliced after a slice has been removed therefrom. Also,the cutting element extends outwardly from'and forwardly of the guide asuflicient distance to permit of the cutting element being ground anumber of times in sharpening same before said cutting element "must bediscarded.

1. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element said supporting means enclosing the cutting elementtransversely except for the cutting edge only'thereof which'extendsoutwardlybeyond the supporting means,

means forsubjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, saidcutting element being provided with a cutting edge which is inclined atan acute angle to the path of movement of material being fed thereto tobe sliced,

being arranged in a vertical plane which is disposed at a slight anglewith respect to the vertical plane of said cutting element.

2. A slicing machine comprising a utting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, said supporting meansenclosing the cutting element transversely except for the cutting edgeonly thereof which extends outwardly beyond the, supporting means, 1means for subjecting said cutting element to rebeing'fed thereto to besliced, and a gaugeplate for regulating the thickness of slicescut bythe slicing machine, said gauge plate being arranged in a vertical planewhich is disposed at a slight angle with respect to the vertical planeof said cutting element.

3. A, slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, said supporting meansenclosing the cutting element transversely except for the cutting edgeonly thereof which extends outwardly beyond the supporting means, meansfor subjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, acarriage movable transversely of the path of movement of said cutting.element for supportingthe material being sliced, said cutting elementbeing inclined at an'acute angle to the path of movement of the materialbeing fed' thereto to be sliced, and a gauge plate for regulating thethickness of slices cut by the slicing machine, said gauge plate beingarranged in a vertical plane which is; disposed at a slight angle withrespect to the path of movement of said carriage.

4. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, said' supporting meansenclosing the cutting element transversely except for the cutting edgethereof which extends outwardly beyond the supporting means,

means for subjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, agauge plate, means for adjusting said gauge plate to various positionsto produce slices of different thicknesses, a carriage movabletransversely of the path of movementof said cutting element forsupporting the material to be sliced, said gauge plate being disposed ina vertical plane at a slight angle to'the path of travel of saidcarriage, and a follower including a pusher plate disposed in a.substantially verticalposition, said pusher plate being arrangedsubstantially parallel with respect to said gauge plate. r

5. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supporting,said cutting element for straight, line movement, said supporting meansenclosing the cutting element transversely except for the cutting edgethereof which extends outwardly beyond the supporting means, means forsubjecting said cutting element to reciproca-.

of travel of said carriage, a follower including apusher'plate disposedin 'a substantially vertical position, said pusher plate being arrangedsubstantially parallel with respect to said gauge plate, I

and means for guiding said follower toward and from the vertical planeof said gauge plate, said means being disposed perpendicularly withrespect to the vertical plane of the gauge plate.v

6. A slicing machine comprising a cutting ele-- ment, means forsupporting said cutting element for straight line movement, saidsupporting means enclosing the cutting element transversely except forthe cutting edge thereof which extends outwardly beyond the supportingmeans, means for subjecting said cutting element to reciprocatorymovement, a gauge plate, means for adjusting said gauge plate to variouspositions to produce'slices of different thicknesses, a carriage movabletransversely of the path of movement of said cutting element forsupporting the material to be sliced, said gauge plate being disposed ina vertical plane at a slight angle to the path of travel of saidcarriage, a follower including a pusher plate disposed in asubstantially vertical position, said pusher plate being arrangedsubstantially parallel with respect to said gauge plate, and meanscomprising aguiding rod for guiding said follower toward and from thevertical plane of said gauge plate, said means being disposedperpendicularlyv with respect to the vertical plane of the gauge plate."7. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, means for subjectingsaid cutting element to reciprocatory movement, and means for guidingsaid cutting element at the top thereof at which point said cuttingelement is provided with an elongated opening, the last-mentioned meanscomprising a movably supported element provided with a pin extended intothe elongated opening atthe top of said cutting element, and means forlocking said movable element in a position where the pin thereof isextended into said elongated opening.

8. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, means for subjectingsaid cutting element to reciprocatory movement, 1 and means for guidingsaid cutting element at the top thereof at which point said cuttingelementis provided with an elongated opening, the last mentioned meanscomprising a slidingly supported element provided with a pin extendedinto the elongated opening at he top of said cutting element, and meansfor locking said slidable element in a position where the pin thereof isextended into said elongated opening. 1

9. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight linemovement, meansforsubjecting saidcutting element to reciprocatory movement, and means for guiding saidcutting element at the topethereof at which point said cutting elementis provided with an elongated opening, the last-mentioned meanscomprising a movably supported element of substantially L-shapedformation provided with a pin extended into'the' elongated opening atthe top of said cutting element, and means for locking said movableelement in 10. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, a guidefor supporting said cutting element for straight line movement, meansfor subjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, and meansfor guiding said cutting element at the top thereof at which point saidcutting element is provided with an elongated opening, thelast-mentioned means comprising an element of substantially L-shapedformation provided with a pin extended into'the elongated opening at thetop of said cutting element, a

portion of said L-shaped element being slidingi. m. a

1y supported in a depression formed in" said guide to permit of the pinthereof being removed-from the elongated opening at the top of'saidcutting element by elevating said element, and means for locking saidelement in a position where the pin thereof is extended into saidelongated opening; Y

'11. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, a guide forsupporting said cutting element for straight line movement, means forsubjecting said cutting element to reciprocatoiy movement, and means'forguiding said cutting element at the top thereof at which point said.

cutting element is provided with an elongated opening, thelast-mentioned means comprising an element of substantially L-shapedformation provided with apin extended into the elongated element, meansfor supporting-said cutting ele ment for straight line movement, andmeans for subjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement,the'lastmentioned means including a rotary element, a yoke associatedwith said-rotary element, guiding means for guiding the movement of saidyoke, and means for connecting said yoke to said cutting element, saidconnecting means comprising a rod supported for reciprocatory movement,and joint portions at opposite ends of saidrod arranged to detachablyengage said yoke and said cutting element respectively.

13. A slicing machine comprising a'cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, and means forsubjecting said cutting element-to reciprocatory movement, thelast-mentioned means including a rotary element, a yoke associated withsaidirotary element, guiding means for guiding the movement of saidyoke, and means for connect-' ing said yoke to said cutting element,said connecting means comprising 'a rod supported for reciprocatorymovement, and joint portionsat. op-

posite ends of said rod arranged to detachably engage said yoke and saidcutting element respectively, the joint portion which engages thecutting element includinga pin adapted to be introduced intoanopening'formed in the; cutting element, I .2"

14. A slicingmachine comprising a c'uttingelement, means forsupportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, and meansforsubjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, thelast-mentioned means including a rotary element, a yoke associated withsaid rotary element, guiding means for guiding the movement of saidyoke, and means for connect ing said yoke to said cutting element,saidaconnecting means comprising a rod supported for reciprocatorymovement, and. joint portions at opposite ends of said rod arranged todetachably engage said yoke and said cuttingelement respectively, thejoint portion which engages the cutting element including a pin adaptedto be introduced into an elongated opening formed in the cuttingelement.

15. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element. means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, and means forsubjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, thelast-mentioned means including a rotary element, a yoke associated withsaid rotary element, guiding means for guiding the movement of saidyoke, and means for connecting said yoke to said cutting element, saidconnecting means comprising a rod supported for recipr0ca-' torymovement, and joint portions at opposite ends of said rod arranged todetachabiy engage said yoke and said cutting element respectively, thejoint portion which engages the cutting element including a pin adaptedto be introduced into an elongated, transversely extended opening formedin the cutting element.

16. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for supportingsaid cutting element for straight line movement, and means forsubjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, thelast-mentioned means including a rotary element, a yoke associated withsaid rotary element, guiding means for guiding the movement of saidyoke, and means for connecting said yoke to said cutting element, saidconnecting means comprising a rod supported for reciprocatory movement,and joint portions at opposite ends of said rod arranged to detachablyengage said yoke and said cutting element respectively, the jointportion which engages the cutting element including a pin adapted to beintroduced into an elongated, transversely extended,-

open end opening formed in the cutting element.

17. A slicing machine comp-rising a cutting element, means forsupporting said cutting element for straight line movement, and meansfor subjecting said cutting element to reciprocatory movement, thelast-mentioned means including a rotary element, a yoke associated withsaid rotary element, guiding means for guiding the movement of saidyoke, and means for connecting said yoke to said cutting element, saidconnecting means comprising a rod supported for reciprocatory movement,and joint portions at opposite ends of said rod arranged to detachablyengage said yoke and said cutting element respectively, the jointportion which engages the yoke including a rotatable pin, said rotatablepin being provided with an aperture which receives a portion of saidyoke.

,jecting 18. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means forsupporting said cutting element for straight line movement, and meansfor sub said cutting element movement, the last-mentioned meansincluding a rotary element, a yoke associated with said rotary element,guiding means for guiding the movement of said yoke, and means forconnecting said yoke to said cutting element, said connecting meanscomprising a rod supported for reciprocatory movement, and jointportions at opposite ends of said rod arranged to detachably engage saidyoke and said cutting element respectively, the joint portion whichengages the yoke comprising a bifurcated portion provided with arotatable pin, said rotatable pin being provided with an aperture whichreceives a portion of said yoke.

19. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for impartingmovement to said cutting element, a carriage for supporting material tobe sliced, guiding means for guiding said carriage transversely withrespect to the path of movement of said cutting element, said'guidingmeans comprising an elongated member. a

sleeve portion associated with said carriage Which embraces saidelongated member, and antifriction means for causing said sleeve to movefreely with respect to said elongated member, the lastmentioned meansincluding rollers, and angular shafts on which said rollers are mounted,said angular shafts being disposed within angular openings formed insaid sleeve.

20. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for impartingmovement to said cutting element, a carriage for supporting material tobe sliced, guiding means for guiding said carriage transversely withrespect to the path of movement of said cutting element, said guidingmeans comprising an elongated member, a sleeve portion associated withsaid carriage which embraces said elongated member, and antifrictionmeans for causing said sleeve to move freely with respect to saidelongated member, the last-mentioned means including rollers, andangular shafts on which said rollers are mounted, said angular shaftsbeing disposed Within angular openings formed in said sleeve in a mannerto provide said angular openings with open ends at an end of saidsleeve.

' CARL S. REED. I

ADOLPH RUBIN.

to reciprocatory

